VW/Audi coming back with Hybrid in 2021 Dakar

KevinUrie

KevinUrie

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"In a press release on Monday morning, Audi confirmed three things. Thing one, it would be entering the Dakar Rally in 2022 with a brand new factory-effort plug-in hybrid electric buggy. Thing two, it would be kicking off a new top-class sports car effort in IMSA and the WEC with a factory-built LMDh starting in 2022. Thing three, it would be leaving Formula E as a factory effort at the end of season seven next summer. Any one of those would be world-rocking admissions in the motorsport arena, but all three at once is a really big deal. Audi is completely changing tack on its racing future, and making it happen in quick time."
"As for the company’s Dakar efforts, this is a complete fly ball out of left field, or whatever the sports analogy is. This was a surprise to everyone, possibly including some at Audisport. This is a first-time effort for the brand, and it will be done with what Audi calls “an electric drivetrain with a high-voltage battery and a highly efficient energy converter” which I assume means it’ll have electric drive with a range-extending gasoline engine. Little is known about the program right now, but Audi says “Cross-country rallying will be the spearhead of the factory motorsport commitment in the future,” which bodes well for the program lasting a long time and ranging beyond just Dakar."
Audi Is Shaping Its Motorsport Future Around Le Mans And Dakar Efforts (jalopnik.com)


Should be good for Dakar but another factory needs to get involved to give them some competition unless Toyota decides to get serious.
 
spalind

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Let the competition for the driver's seat begin now!
 
Ferrari333SP

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Fantastic for the sport, and for Audi it lets their engineering team play around with technologies and develop them in the best environment possible. Can't wait to see this thing run. Smart of them to get out of that trash series Formula E
 
partybarge_pilot

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mrlentle

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KevinUrie

KevinUrie

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mrlentle said:
I would say depends on which class. EV's have been competing already.
www.acciona.com

Electric vehicle in the Dakar Rally | ACCIONA | Business as unusual

The ACCIONA 100% Ecopowered is a zero emission vehicle, being the first electric car to complete the Dakar Rally, as well as the Morocco Rally
www.acciona.com www.acciona.com
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But if the other big efforts aren't in that class it wouldn't do anything to help the event IMHO. A somewhat level playing field would be ideal. Figuring out the balance between two classes like they have tried with 2wd and 4wd takes a ton of time to fine-tune and they still don't really have it figured out.
 
mrlentle

mrlentle

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KevinUrie said:
But if the other big efforts aren't in that class it wouldn't do anything to help the event IMHO. A somewhat level playing field would be ideal. Figuring out the balance between two classes like they have tried with 2wd and 4wd takes a ton of time to fine-tune and they still don't really have it figured out.
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I agree 100% regarding rules etc though I'm not sure the event needs any help. For a lot of non North 'Mericans the Dakar is the ultimate off road race (shown in 190 countries, 1 billion viewers they say for the 2020 event).

Just the fact that another manufacturer is back playing the game is great news and hopefully we'll see others follow suit though I won't hold my breath there - it seems they damn near take turns to be the factory team with the cars.

I'm super excited already - all the regulars will be coming out of the woodwork soon for the battle of the ultimate keyboard warrior!
 
Bricoop

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partybarge_pilot said:
At best you would be able to package 2 of those in a TT. Then you have the cooling systems and batteries. Get enough battery capacity to equal a TT's range and it will not be competitive weight wise. Getting enough battery packs to run the 1K would be expensive to say the least.

Something like NORRA might be doable though.
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Batteries don’t have the range, yet, must be a hybrid. Unless you had a system to quickly change battery packs.

I don’t think the packaging is an issue. Once you consider the motors don’t need to be on the centerline of the truck like a traditional IRS/IFS. Front right motor powers front left tire. Actually would do a lot for CV angles.


KevinUrie said:
To run Dakar doesn't the power train have to be in a production car, or at least some variation of it?
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The tires are too, but that didn’t stop Michelin from giving a tire to the Peugeot that no other teams had access to.
 
mrlentle

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I'm picking they'll be in what is currently known as "Group OP 1 VE (electric vehicle)" which I don't see any restrictions on it being a production powerplant in the rules though haven't read the nuts and bolts version - only the overview:

6) Group OP "Open" Group OP.1: NRJ Challenge: « Alternative Energies »
a) Based on the Regulations for the T1, T2, T3 and T4 Groups, there will be a challenge for Cross-Country Vehicles powered by alternative energy (hybrids engines, gas, hydrogen, etc.). Vehicles will be accepted to this challenge upon receipt of a detailed file, presented before October 1 st , 2020.
b) These Vehicles must have sufficient range to cover the distance from the Bivouac to the Finish of the Selective Section, except dispensation granted by A.S.O. For Vehicles using biodegradable fuels, the fuel used to travel from the Bivouac to the Start of the Selective Section, as well as the Selective Section itself, must be the fuel declared at Scrutineering.
c) Checks may be carried out at the start of the Leg and/or at the Selective Section, and/or at the Finish of the Selective Section. Depending on the infringements detected, penalties will be awarded at the discretion of the Stewards.
d) The Selection Committee reserves the right to refuse any Vehicle and/or Crew in this challenge.

Group OP 2 VE2 has some interesting additons re extra time
Group OP.2: VE Challenge "Electric Vehicles"
a) 100% electric Vehicles may recharge several times. A time of one hour per charge will be deducted from the time taken on the Selective Section, their number absolutely must be disclosed before 15 November 2020. However, their number can be changed on the eve of each Leg before 7 pm
b) To ensure a full electric charge at the start of the assistance, the electric Vehicle is permitted to leave half an hour before his actual departure time from the Bivouac. It may be accompanied by its service Vehicle (T5.3).
c) During the Marathon Leg, the T6 truck dedicated to recharging the Electric Vehicle will be authorized to enter the Bivouac. No other assistance of this Vehicle will be accepted in the Bivouac. A Briefing Note will be given to the person in charge of the Time Control at the entrance (CH).
d) The electric Vehicle restart on the next Leg: • If it has not fulfilled all of the day's Selective Section, • If it is outside the deadline at the Time Control (CH) of the start of a Leg. However, its presence at the start of the Selective Section shall be a maximum of one hour after the departure of the last Competitor of the Rally. It absolutely must notify the PCO by phone via the Iritrack of its intention and of the route it will follow to join the next Bivouac. This principle will apply twice at the most during the entire Rally.
 
Silverstone

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[IMG]


Neuburg a. d. Donau, December 11, 2020 – Audi will compete in the Dakar Rally for the first time with an innovative prototype in 2022. The race in the world’s toughest cross-country rally will be carried out in cooperation with the newly-founded Q Motorsport GmbH based in Trebur (Germany).


“By cooperating with Q Motorsport, we are sticking to our philosophy that has proven itself at Audi over many years,” says Julius Seebach, Managing Director of Audi Sport GmbH and responsible for motorsport at Audi. “The development of the Dakar prototype with its innovative drivetrain concept is being carried out in-house. We are contesting the race together with an experienced partner. The Q Motorsport team contributes an enormous amount of specific experience from cross-country motorsport.”

Q Motorsport GmbH was founded by Sven Quandt and his two sons Thomas and Tobias Quandt. As a driver, Sven Quandt won the T1 Marathon Cup in 1998. In the same year, his team GECO Raid celebrated a 1-2-3 victory in the T1 classification of the Paris–Dakar Rally. From November 2002 to the end of 2004, Quandt was the head of motorsport at Mitsubishi Motors. At the same time, he began to build up the X-raid Team, which celebrated five victories in the Dakar Rally and won the FIA World Cup for cross-country rallies eleven times.

“With Q Motorsport, we want to break new ground in cross-country motorsport independently of and parallel to X-raid,” says Sven Quandt. “The world is changing and the Dakar must also prove that it can be sustainable and continue to point the way forward. This is exactly what Q Motorsport wants to demonstrate together with Audi.”
 
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